Category Archives: General

Today’s newspaper column from The Daily Journal (Kankakee, Ill.) and The Times (Ottawa, Ill.) … Marching toward St. Patrick’s Day in Chicago The WISCH LIST March 10, 2012 They say that March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb. But we should hardly forget to mention that in between there’s a […]

Today’s newspaper column from The Daily Journal (Kankakee, Ill.) and The Times (Ottawa, Ill.) … 24 Hours of Oscars … and a grouch The WISCH LIST March 3, 2012 For 83 years, Hollywood’s stars have slapped each other’s backs and celebrated film at The Academy Awards. Last weekend, I spent almost that long sitting inside […]

In honor of “Leap Day,”  I thought I’d run this column, which was originally published eight years ago in 2004 in The Daily Times (Ottawa, Ill.) and later that year in my book, “Northern IlliNOISE: Tales of a Territory” … A Leap of Fate The WISCH LIST Feb. 23, 2004 Mary Lu Conness of Ottawa […]

Today’s column from The Daily Journal (Kankakee, Ill.) and The Times (Ottawa, Ill.) … The next Illini basketball coach better have wings The WISCH LIST Feb. 25, 2012 Caught in a nosedive so steep that it can’t seem to pull out no matter how hard Bruce Weber tugs on the busted controls, the University of […]

Find Chicago’s bleeding hearts at Tommy Gun’s Garage The WISCH LIST Feb. 18, 2011 At Tommy Gun’s Garage, Valentine’s Day isn’t for the faint of heart. But on Tuesday night, the longtime “speakeasy” in Chicago’s Far South Loop was certainly good for a laugh. Or, you know, 30. This week, while countless other couples throughout […]

Today’s newspaper column from The Daily Journal (Kankakee, Ill.) and The Times (Ottawa, Ill.) … Looking for love on the Illinois’ sports scene The WISCH LIST Feb. 11, 2012 It’s just three days until Valentine’s Day, but I’m having a hard time finding the love. For the state’s sports teams, that is. Right now, the Illini […]

From the Saturday, Feb. 4, editions of The Daily Journal (Kankakee, Ill.) and The Times (Ottawa, Ill.) … Shadowing the colorful past of Lake Shore Drive The WISCH LIST Feb. 4, 2012 This year, Groundhog Day didn’t repeat itself. Thank goodness. On Feb. 2, one year ago, I was bundled up like an Eskimo and […]

Today’s newspaper column from The Daily Journal (Kankakee, Ill.) and The Times (Ottawa, Ill.) … Chicago’s history of heists is a rich one The WISCH LIST Jan. 28, 2012 From “Ocean’s Eleven” to “Inception,” “The Usual Suspects” to “The Italian Job,” and “The Sting” to, heck, “The Great Muppet Caper,” I’ve always been fascinated by […]

This weekend’s newspaper column from The Daily Journal (Kankakee, Ill.) and The Times (Ottawa, Ill.) … Taking a few more swings at Hall of Fame voting The WISCH LIST Jan. 21, 2012 Last weekend in downtown Chicago, the Cubs Convention passed for the second straight year without Ron Santo in attendance. Come this summer in […]

From the Saturday, Jan. 14, editions of The Daily Journal (Kankakee, Ill.) and The Times (Ottawa, Ill.) … Chicago’s Chinatown celebrates its first century The WISCH LIST Jan. 14, 2012 The drive from downtown Ottawa to the corner of Cermak Road and Archer Avenue on Chicago’s South Side is a distance of only 82 miles. […]